Chapter 1 Home Coming

Scarlett's Point of View

I smiled at the thought of my identical twin sister returning home after more than a year of living far away. Although I had been hesitant to visit her due to her fiancé's dangerous nature, I could hardly contain my excitement now that she was coming home.

I stood up from my chair and began packing my belongings into my bag, preparing to leave the office. I don't typically leave work this early, but with my sister returning home tonight, it felt like a special occasion.

The door to my office swung open, and Annabelle, my assistant, entered. She is an exceptionally intelligent individual, and I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with her. She diligently follows all my instructions and is unafraid to highlight when my ideas may be flawed.

"Good afternoon, Miss Scarlett. There is a significant meeting you should attend with an investor in an hour," Annabelle said, but her words fell on deaf ears.

I had no intention of attending any meetings today, particularly since my sister was coming home.

"Cancel all my meetings for today," I replied, grabbing my bag and preparing to leave.

"Miss, the meeting is crucial. If you miss it, we could lose the investors," Annabelle insisted, and I sighed.

"That's okay, Annabelle. We will find other investors. I need to go home as soon as possible," I told her. Suddenly, an idea struck me. "How about you attend the meeting on my behalf and present our best shoe collection? If they accept the deal, we can move forward. I trust you with this; I know you can do an excellent job." Annabelle's shocked expression was priceless, but I didn't wait for her to respond; I left her there.

As I approached my car, I carefully placed my bag on the seat and climbed inside before driving off.

I missed Scarlynn immensely. She fell in love with a guy we barely knew, got engaged, and left home all at once.

I hadn't seen her in a long time; she rarely called home, and none of our family members knew where she lived. All we knew was that her soon-to-be husband was a dangerous individual involved with the mafia, and he resolved his disputes with a gun.

I honestly never wanted my sister to be with such a monster, but what could I do? She loved him and would not tolerate anyone speaking ill of her fiancé, leaving us all with no choice.

I loved my sister, and her happiness was important to me. As long as she was content with that monster, that was all that truly mattered.

As for me, marriage was the last thing on my mind. I wasn't even ready to be in a relationship. All I wanted was to grow my business, increase my income, and enjoy life without any worries.

Honestly, I believe that relationships require more than just love, and I was too selfish. I was unwilling to compromise or make any sacrifices, which is why I preferred to be alone. It felt better that way. I had everything I wanted, along with my family by my side. I couldn't ask for more.

Warmth spread through my chest as I finally parked my car in front of our two-story estate, complete with a sweeping staircase and crystal chandeliers. It wasn't enormous, but it was just right for us. My father was involved in the mafia, but he wasn't the wealthiest man alive. He was simply a prosperous man who provided his family with a luxurious lifestyle. He even assisted me in starting my own business.

As I entered the sitting room, a maid greeted me at the entrance and took my handbag and coat.

I began to make my way to the couch but stopped midway.

The devil sat there, legs spread, his black eyes narrowed. He dominated the entire couch, exuding an aura of power, his rugged presence commanding the attention of my entire family.

They were all seated in silence, no one uttering a word. Scarlynn sat next to her fiancé, a smile gracing her lips. I couldn't comprehend why she was smiling while her entire family trembled in fear; naturally, they were terrified of this intimidating man.

"I'm leaving her in your care," he said, his voice deep and husky, compelling everyone to focus on him. "If anything were to happen to her or my child, I would destroy your entire clan," he added.

He slowly rose from the couch, adjusting his suit, and began walking toward me. He shot me a glance before exiting the house. I was certain my parents were too intimidated by him to even consider walking him out.

"Scarlett," Scarlynn called my name, her tone dripping with excitement, snapping me out of my daze.

She rose from the couch and rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me. That's when I finally realized how large her belly had become.

"Scarlynn, you're pregnant, and you didn't even tell us?" I asked as I gently pulled her out of the embrace and scanned her from head to toe. She had gained a significant amount of weight and was glowing. She looked even more beautiful than I did, but something seemed off; I decided to ask her about it later.

Scarlynn's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I wanted to surprise you all, and it seems my plan worked, " she said sweetly, giggling.

I took her hand and led her to the couch, gently assisting her as she sat down while I settled in beside her.

Mom and Dad were unusually quiet, not uttering a word, and they didn't seem pleased to see Scarlynn.

Even as I spoke to her, I anticipated Dad would interrupt with one of his reprimands for her prolonged absence, but today he remained silent.

I furrowed my brows as I glanced at my parents. "Mom, Dad... Aren't you happy that your daughter is back home?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.

My mom typically fell silent when she felt guilty about something, while my dad, who was known for being very talkative, was unusually quiet. It was rare to see him in this state.

My mom cleared her throat. "Umm, of course, I'm happy that my daughter is back home. Please excuse me; I have an important meeting." She spoke quickly and rose from the couch, making her way out.

"You should spend some time together. I have some things I need to take care of," my dad said as he quickly got off the chair and left the room.

My jaw dropped as I watched them leave just like that. This can't be real! Something was off, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

"Scarlett..Are you okay? You seem lost in thoughts " Scarlynn's voice pulled me back to reality, and I turned my attention to her, forcing a smile.

I was not pleased with how Mom and Dad behaved just now, but I redirected my attention to my sister, setting aside any distracting thoughts.

"You all look so glowing and happy," I said, a teasing smile playing on my lips. "You disappeared all of a sudden and didn't even call your sister. You've forgotten all about me because of a guy," I added, pouting and feigning my sadness while observing her expression as she rolled her eyes.

"I can forget the whole world, but I can never forget you, Scarlett. You can keep dreaming about it," Scarlynn said, and I let out a chuckle.

"Your fiancé looks intimidating. How do you manage to be with someone like him?" I asked, casting a glance in her direction.

"He loves me deeply, and he would never do anything to hurt me," she said. I nodded my head, raising my eyebrows skeptically.

"Oh, I see," I said softly. I simply couldn't stand the fact that she loved that guy. I detested everything about him.

"And what about you? Are you seeing anyone?" Scarlynn asked.

A sly grin spread across my lips as an idea suddenly came to me.

"Well, I'm married," I said, a teasing smile playing on my lips. Scarlynn's eyes widened with excitement.

"Oh my God, Scarlet, you got married, and you didn't even tell me? Where is your husband?" she asked rapidly, and I burst into laughter.

"I'm married to my work, Scarlynn. You know I have no time for anything else but my work!" I said between laughs.

Scarlynn began hitting me with a pillow as I laughed. "You are so silly, Scarlett. I really thought you were married," Scarlynn said, annoyance etched on her face, and I couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You know that's impossible. Marriage isn't my thing," I said, and Scarlynn shook her head in disbelief.

The day passed effortlessly, and Scarlynn and I spent the entire night engaged in conversation and laughter.

I had missed her dearly, and we stayed up late catching up on numerous topics. I can't even recall when we finally drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to the loud ringing of my alarm. Even though I wasn't going to work, I was so accustomed to waking up early that I couldn't help it.

I slowly opened my eyes before sitting up in bed and rubbing them. I glanced at Scarlynn; she was sleeping soundly. With a sigh, I got off the bed and headed to the bathroom.

I took a quick shower before stepping out of the bathroom and changing into a fresh outfit. After getting ready, I walked over to the bed where Scarlynn lay. I gently shook her, but she did not wake up.

"Scarlynn, wake up; it's breakfast time," I called. I gently shook her arm, but she didn't stir, causing my brows to furrow in concern.

I raised my hand to her neck and pressed it against her skin. My heart raced as I noticed that Scarlynn's pulse was so weak that I could barely detect it. Her entire body was burning; she had a dangerously high fever.

"Scarlynn, wake up," I said anxiously, but she didn't open her eyes. A knot formed in my stomach as I rushed to the door. After opening it, I ran downstairs.

Reaching the dining room, I found Mom and Dad already seated for breakfast. "Mom, Dad, Scarlynn isn't waking up! She has a high fever!" I exclaimed, panting heavily.

My chest felt heavy, and the thought of anything happening to her sent a shiver down my spine. Mom and Dad quickly got up and rushed upstairs while I pulled out my phone to call for an ambulance.

"Hello, please come to the Blackwood mansion. It's an emergency," I said quickly before hanging up and racing back upstairs.

Everything happened so quickly. Before we knew it, we were pacing outside the operating room, none of us fully aware of what was occurring. At least, that's what I believed-Mom and Dad appeared to know but chose not to share the details with me.

I vividly remembered how strangely they had acted yesterday, yet now they appeared calm while my sister fought for her life. I was utterly bewildered by what had happened to her.

The door to the operating room swung open, and two nurses stepped out. I quickly made my way toward them.

"How is my sister?" I asked, striving to remain calm. An overwhelming sense of unease washed over me, as if something terrible were about to happen.

"Miss Scarlynn Blackwood is in the final stage of brain cancer. She was fortunate to give birth to a healthy baby, but she has only a few hours left to live. We did everything we could to save her, but it was too late." I froze in place as the doctor's words echoed in my ears.

My throat constricted, and I struggled to breathe. "What are you talking about?" I forced the words out, desperately trying to convince myself that I had misunderstood; perhaps they had mistaken my sister for someone else.

"I'm truly sorry, ma'am, but your sister has only a few hours left to live. She could pass away at any moment," the doctor said. I stepped back, grappling with the unfathomable reality.

This couldn't be real. My sister was healthy; she had to be fine. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at Mom and Dad. They stood there, motionless. They knew-knew that my sister was sick and on the verge of death-and yet they hadn't done anything to help her.

I inhaled sharply, struggling to muster my strength. "Can I see her?" I asked.

"Of course, you can," the doctor replied calmly.

I shuffled into the ward, pushed the door open, and there she was, lying in bed and cradling her baby.

I took a deep breath, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to spill over.

As I approached, she turned her attention to me, sensing my presence. I sat down in a small chair beside her bed.

"Scarlett, I'm so grateful to have you as my sister. I adore you deeply, and I know you feel the same way about me. I would do anything for you, and you would do anything for me, right?" Scarlynn asked softly, tears streaming down her face.

A heaviness settled in my chest. "Scarlynn, why didn't you tell me?" I forced the words out through my tears.

She placed the baby in my hands, her fingers trembling. "I'm giving you my precious gold; you're the only person I trust with her. Please..." Scarlynn stammered, her eyes brimming with tears. "Please take care of her as if she were your own daughter. I'm begging you." I struggled to catch my breath as I broke down in sobs.

My heart shattered into a million pieces. She knew she was dying, which was why she had come home to spend the entire night with me. How could she be so selfish? Scarlynn sobbed as well, tears streaming down her face.

"How could you hide this from me, Scarlynn? You can't leave me alone, Scarlynn. I won't let you die; there must be a way to save you. There has to be something I can do. I can't lose you." My voice cracked between sobs.

A sharp pain ripped through my chest, unbearable in its intensity. "I adore you, Scarlett. You mean the world to me. Please take care of my daughter," Scarlynn said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With that, she closed her eyes. My screams filled the ward as I succumbed to a fit of sobs, echoing through the silence.

Pain seared through me like a hot knife as I felt like I was watching her spirit leave her body; she lay there lifeless. This felt like a nightmare-the worst nightmare imaginable. I wished someone would wake me up and tell me it was all just a dream, but this was the most excruciating reality of my life.

My sister's visit yesterday felt like a brief respite, but it was deceptive. I believed everything was fine, yet deep down, I should have recognized the signs. The truth was concealed behind her makeup and a forced smile, which I now see clearly. Her face appeared pale and gaunt, a stark contrast to the vibrant person I once knew. It was naive of me to assume everything was okay simply because I wanted it to be. The reality is difficult to accept: my sister's health was deteriorating, even as she assured me that all was well.